I Looked Into Yoshida Genki Mura

Looking into campgrounds and cottage facilities that catch my eye, one by one, and turning them into articles—that's the style I've kept up on this blog. Honestly, I've lost count of how many facilities this makes by now.

This time I looked into Yoshida Genki Mura in Chichibu. When I found out it offers not just cottage stays but day camping too, and even has a day-use bathing facility attached, I thought it might be the kind of place that could catch the interest of even an indoor type like me, so I did some research.

What Kind of Facility Is Yoshida Genki Mura?

This is a camp facility located in Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, apparently open year-round with hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The regular closing day is basically every Tuesday, though if that Tuesday falls on a public holiday, it seems they stay open and close the following day instead. During the summer holiday period from July 20 to August 31, they're apparently open every day, while in the winter season from November 1 to March 31, they seem to close on both Tuesdays and Wednesdays. It looks like they close for the New Year's holiday period (December 29 to January 3), so if you're considering a winter visit, it's worth checking the schedule ahead of time.

Accommodation comes in cottage form, apparently available in two types: one for 6 people and one for 9 people. Rates differ between weekdays and weekends—the 6-person cottage runs 20,370 yen on weekdays and 25,460 yen on weekends, while the 9-person cottage is 25,460 yen on weekdays and 30,550 yen on weekends. For the 9-person cottage, if you exceed capacity and use it with 10 to 12 people, an extra 2,040 yen per person is apparently added. For those who just want to enjoy a day camp without staying overnight, there's also a day-camp option at 1,000 yen per person.

Reservations are apparently accepted by phone only, and it seems there's no email booking option through the official website. Booking reportedly opens on the 1st of the month, four months before your intended date, so once you've settled on a date, it's probably best to act quickly. You can check the latest details on the official website.

Checking Out the Facilities That Matter to an Indoor Type Like Me

For someone like me—more of an indoor type who cares less about camping itself and more about whether I can stay comfortable—the facilities are really the top thing to check. As far as I could find, here's what's apparently available.

• Restrooms: There are flush toilets with washlets in the clubhouse and other areas, and it seems accessible, wheelchair-friendly restrooms are available too.
• Power outlets: The auto campsites for tents apparently don't have power outlets, but there are outlets inside the cottages and at the cooking/BBQ area.
• Wi-Fi: It's apparently available in the clubhouse and similar areas, which sounds handy if you need to work or stay in touch.
• Bath: There's a day-use bathing facility called Genki Buro attached to the clubhouse, apparently complete with jet baths, bubble baths, and even a sauna. Being able to take a bath after camping is definitely something that catches the interest of an indoor type like me.
• Shop/dining: Located inside the clubhouse, apparently selling souvenirs and BBQ supplies as well.
• Other facilities: There's an all-weather gymnasium of about 1,000 square meters with a clay floor, a cooking building, a stone-oven pizza-making facility, a climbing wall, and a campfire area, among others—giving the impression of a pretty wide range of amenities.

The gymnasium can apparently be used as a clay court, priced at 660 yen per hour from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and 1,100 yen per hour for nighttime use from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Having sports facilities like this alongside the tent sites might make this a slightly unusual type of facility.

Komorin

I feel like campgrounds with a day-use bathing facility attached aren't actually all that common. For someone like me who cares more about the bath than the tent, I think this setup is a welcome one.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location on Rakuten's official "my area Coverage Simulation" tool, the overall rating came back as "C." Since I use Rakuten Mobile myself, I always keep an eye on these ratings whenever I check a spot. This time, the result came out this way, so I'm laying it out here as is.

A "C" rating seems best understood as meaning that, depending on the exact spot, the signal might be weak or unstable in places. Since Wi-Fi is apparently available inside the gymnasium and clubhouse, that could help make up for it somewhat depending on your mobile connection, but if you're planning to use your phone outdoors, it's probably worth checking ahead of time.

Komorin

Seeing the C rating was a little disappointing, but I'm telling myself it'll probably work out somehow since there's Wi-Fi. That said, as someone with a license I never actually drive with, I can't make it out there myself in the end, so if you do visit, I'd love to hear how the actual signal feels.

I Also Looked Into Nearby Sightseeing and Hot Spring Spots

Right near the facility is the Yoshida River, which is apparently used as a spot for playing in the water. There's also Kassumi Dam nearby (also known as Nishi-Chichibu Momoko Lake), which gives the impression of a nice environment for relaxing while taking in the view of the water.

For sightseeing, I came across names like Kannon-in Temple (the 31st sacred site of the pilgrimage) and Saitama Midori-no-Mura. As for hot springs, there seem to be facilities like Michi-no-Eki Ryokami Onsen Yakushi-no-Yu and Chichibu Onsen Seion-no-Yu. That said, I wasn't able to find specific travel times from the facility to each of these within what I researched, so it's probably worth checking ahead of time if you plan to actually visit.

There also seem to be several roadside stations nearby, with names like Michi-no-Eki Ryusei Kaikan (in Yoshida, Chichibu City), Michi-no-Eki Ryokami Onsen Yakushi-no-Yu (in Ogano Town), and Michi-no-Eki Hanazono (near the Hanazono IC direction) coming up. My impression is that this is an area with plenty of spots to stop by along the way.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, my impression of Yoshida Genki Mura is that it's a versatile facility where you can enjoy cottage stays, day camping, and day-use bathing all together in one spot. With a gymnasium, a climbing wall, and a stone-oven pizza-making experience also on offer, there seem to be ways to spend time beyond just camping, making it well suited for families or larger groups.

On the other hand, the Rakuten Mobile signal came back as a C rating. If you're concerned about connectivity outdoors, it might be worth checking Rakuten Mobile's official tool ahead of time for peace of mind. Since reservations are apparently accepted by phone only, it's probably a good idea to act early once you've settled on your dates.

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Related Links

• Official Site